Switch stand



Sept. 15, 1936. P. HOFFMAN ET AL v SWITCH STAND Filed April 3, 1955 2' Sheets-Sheet 1 Y z' T 34 7 25? I lNVENTORa PAUL HOFFMAN, BY W/l/TT/ER PERDUE ATTORN EYS v p 1936- P. HOFFMAN ET AL I 2,054,543

SWITCH STAND Filed A ril 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fgd Z4 B INVENTORS:

PAUL HGFFMHN, Z5 BY Nil/7775K Pmoua, ze 7 I/ ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 15, 1936 UNITED TATiSE iS Chicago, -Ill., ,assignors ,to .Ramapo Ajax .Cor- .poration, New,ork,,N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April #3, 1935, 'Serial FNO. 14382 Claims.

The. invention relates I to rail-road switch stands, and more particularly to: switch stands of thesocalled gearless type. v

According to a-preferred embodiment' of the invention, th'eswitch stand is providedwitha spindle having the usual operating arm for attachment to =the switchpoints. Acrank shaft is provided -whose crank pin is disposed at am acute-anglewiththe axis of-the shaft. This crank pin is -journalled in adisc which in turnis -journalled in a rectangular slot passing *throughthe spindle. The hand lever for-operating the switch point is connected by -a =1ost motion connection to the crankshaft. The angle-of the'crank pin with the'crank shaft is sufficiently greater than 45 that the spindle may be rotated its =full'90 operating range without -requiring the -crank -pin tote-operatedbetween-full dead centenposltions. "The lost-motion connection permits a full "180 throw of the hand lever from one horizontal posi- -tion to the 'other, while permitting lessthan =1'80 throw to the crank shaft.

Such -a switch stand overcomes the disadvan- =tages of the-switch stand disclosed by Perdue -Patent N0. 1 ,526,561, patented February 1-7, 1925, while retainingall of the advantages inherent/in this type of stand. The full thrown-positions of the -crankpin in the "present switch stand falling short of dead center avoids setting up great stresses approaching infinity, a condition sometimes obtained-in the'old type of-switch stand'disclosed in the above ;me ntion ed patent, when the switch was-out of adjustment. vAtthesame-time -thelhr0wnposit ions of thecrank pin'in the 'pres- "ent switch stand are sufficiently close "to dead fcenter to obtain the --desired -non-reversibility so that stresses exerted on the switch-points by the "rolling stock-in normal operation "cannot operate the switchstand. At the same time the full 90 movement-( f the spindle as required {for the target is retained. The *full 180throw of *the han'd lever is also retained so that it lies hat and out of the -way in each thrown position and allows the switchmen to step on the hand lever.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features whichare believed to be characteristic of this invention will-particularly pointed out in the claimsappended hereto, the invention itself, as to :its :objects andvaiivantages, :and the manner in which it may wbe carried out, may be better-understood by :referring to the:following descriptionrtaken in= connection=with the accompanying drawings Fforming 5' a partthereof,-inwhich V Fig. #1 is 1 a pla n view illustratingrthe new.= switch standattachedto a switch;

iFigJ2isan-elevationof the swltchstand taken on the line L-iof Fig. '1;

Fig; 3-is a top plan-view of the switclrstandwith the horizontal cover 'removed and with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig.3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary :sectionsmnthe .15 lines't'r-i aud t-#6, respectively, of Fig. .3;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the crankshaft.

In the .following description and the claims, various details will be identified' by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to "be as generic in their application as the art iwill permit.

Like reference characters :denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In f the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, icertain speclfic disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be un derstood that the details may be modifiedin various respects without departure from the 'broad aspect of the invention.

Referring -now to the drawings, one stock rail of the railway switch is illustrated :by m and one switchpoint =of -'thesw'itch ls illustratedi by ill l The switch rod 14 -connects switch point lil to the other switch point -('not shown) as will Ibe understood by those skilled in the art. The rails Ill and H rest "on tie plates M which in turn rest "on *the elongated ties l'3 which also support the switch standdenotedby -16. Theusuahconmeeting-"rod 15 pivotally connects switch :rod M all) 'and'the operating arm 25 ('Figs. 1, 2, '3 and 4').

It will be understood that the switch stand 116 'may 'be used with a switch of any desired :or conventional construction and that the present switch "is shown only "for purposes of :illustra- 15 tion. Furthermore, it will be understood that the switch stand may be used to-operate other track points, for example, derailing aswitches, movable :point "frogs; 'etc. a V

' T139 switch stand '16 comprisesa-caslng 5 l lienclosing the operating parts. The casing H is made up of a body l8 and a detachable cover l9. The body |8 has an enlarged base which is bolted to the railroad ties |3 in the usual manner. The cover I9 is detachable from the body 8 by the bolts 50 in the usual manner.

Journalled within the casing I1 is a vertical spindle 20 supporting the usual target 2| and having journal portions 22 and 23 cooperating with bearings in the body l8 and cover l9 respectively (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) Intermediate the journals 22 and 23 is an enlarged portion comprising side plates 24 forming a recess therebetween for receiving a flat disc 33 for a purpose hereinafter described more in detail.

The bottom of the spindle 20 has the usual switch operating arm 25 having a screw threaded adjustable connection 26 with the spindle 20. The end of the operating arm 25 is connected to the connecting rod l5 by the usual pivot connection 21.

For operating the spindle 20 crank shaft 28 is provided. This crank shaft has a journal portion 29 journalled between the cover l9 and body I8, being retained in position by suitable shoulders, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 7. The crank shaft'28 has a crank or overhung portion 30 which carries a crank pin 3|. It will be noted particularly from Fig. '7 that the angle between the axis of the crank shaft 28 and the crank pin 3| is 51. The angle between the crank 30 and the axis of the crank shaft is 45, while the angle between crank 30 and the crank pin 3| is 84. The reasons for these angles will be apparent as the description proceeds. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to these particular angles, but other angles may be used so long as the principle of the invention is followed. V

For connecting the crank shaft 28 to the spindle 20, a flat disc 33 is provided, this disc having flat sides cooperating with the flat sides of the side plates 24 and having a bearing opening 32 in which the crank pin 3| is journalled. A suitable washer and cotter pin, identified by 5|, insures the maintenance of the disc 33 in proper position on the crank pin 3|.

For operating the crank shaft 28, a hand lever 34 is provided having the usual weight 35 at the end thereof. To throw the switch this hand lever is moved from one horizontal position, as shown for example in Fig. 2, to the other horizontal position, in both cases engaging stops 36 as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

To obtain a limited lost motion between the hand lever 34 and the crank shaft 28, the former is provided with a bearing 31 journalled on a journal portion 38 of the crank shaft 28. A suitable nut which may be locked by a suitable cotter pin holds the hand lever 34 in proper axial position.

For limiting the lost motion movement between hand lever 34 and crank shaft 28, the bearing 31 is provided with a housing having a pair of abutments 40 which cooperate with a pair of .abutments 4| on the crank shaft 28 (Fig. 2).

The angle between the abutments 40 and 4| is such as to give, in the form shown, a lost motion of 60.

The switch points andthe switch stand are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to be in one thrown position. To operate the switch point II to cause it to engage the stock rail I0, the hand lever 34 is raised, the abutments or stops 40 and 4| engaging after stops 40 move an angle of 60. Further movement of the hand lever 34 toward the other horizontal thrown position causes rotation of the crank shaft 28, moving the crank pin 3| from the full line position in Fig. 6 to the dotdash line position in Fig. 6. As the crank pin 3| takes the dot-dash position in Fig. 6, the hand lever 34 engages the right hand stop 36 in Fig. 2. Thus, while the hand lever 34 moves 180, the crank pin 3| moves only As the crank pin 3| moves from one thrown position to the other, it rotates within the disc 33 at the same time the disc 33 rotates within the side plates 24. The angles of the crank shaft illustrated in Fig. 7 are such that this movement of the crank pin 3| causes the spindle 20 to rotate the standard 90 required by the target 2| which has the usual 90 presentations. It will be understood that to move the switch point back to the other thrown position shown in Fig. 1, the hand lever 34 will be moved from its right hand horizontal position in Fig. 2 to the position illustrated in Fig. 1, repeating the sequence of events just described.

Thus, a switch stand has been described which has all of the advantages of the switch stand disclosed in the above mentioned Perdue patent. The switch stand is of great simplicity, there being a minimum number of wearing parts. The parts do not have to be closely fitted and they may be assembled with a minimum of ease. At the same time the disadvantages of prior art stands are overcome in that there are no dead center positions for the crank pin 3|. Thus, the setting up of almost infinite stresses on the switch stand, the switch points and connecting apparatus due to dead center positions of the crank pin is avoided.

At the same time, the advantages of a 90 movement of the spindle 20 and the advantages of a full movement of the hand lever 34 are retained. The thrown positions of the hand lever are horizontal so that the hand lever will be down and out of the way and the switchmen can step on it to close the switch for the latter part of the closing stroke.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a switch stand, a casing, a crank shaft within said casing having a crank pin which has an angle of more than 45 with the crank shaft, a spindle journalled in said casing, said spindle having an arm for connection to the rail point to be operated, said spindle having a seat, a member journalled in said seat, said member being journalled on said crank pin, a hand lever having a lost motion connection with said crank shaft, rests for limiting the thrown positions of said hand lever, whereby, when said hand lever is operated from one horizontal position to the other, said spindle is moved through substantially 90 and said crank pin falls short of dead center in each thrown position.

2. In a switch stand, a support, a crank shaft journalled therein and having a crank pin which has an angle of more than 45 with the crank shaft, a spindle journalled in said support and operated by said crank pin, the axes of said crank shaft and spindle intersecting at right angles, said spindle having a member for connection to the rail point to be operated, a hand lever having a lost motion connection with said crank shaft to operate the switch stand, and means for limiting the thrown positions of said hand lever to horizontal, the angle of said crank pin and said lost motion connection being such that, when said hand lever is operated from one horizontal position to the other, said spindle is moved through substantially 90 and said crank pin falls short of dead center in each thrown position.

3. In a switch stand, a support, a crank shaft journalled on said support having a crank pin which has an acute angle with said crank shaft of more than a spindle journalled in said support, said spindle having means for connection to the rail point to be operated, said spindle having a recess, a disk journalled in said recess, said disk being journalled on said crank pin, a hand lever connected to said crank shaft, and means whereby, when said hand lever is operated from one thrown position to the other, said crank pin falls short of dead center in each thrown position.

4. In a switch stand, a support, a crank shaft journalled on said support having a crank pin which has an acute angle with said crank shaft of more than 45, a vertical spindle journalled on said support, said spindle having a crank arm for connection to the rail point to be operated, said spindle having a recess, a disk journalled in said recess, said disk being journalled on said crank pin, a hand lever having a lost motion connection with said crank shaft, said acute angle and said lost motion being such that, when said hand lever is operated from one horizontal position to the other, said spindle is moved through substantially 90 and said crank pin falls short of dead center in each thrown position.

5. In a switch stand, a casing, a crank shaft within said casing having a crank pin which has an angle of the order of 51 with said crank shaft, a vertical spindle journalled in said casing, said spindle having an arm on its lower end for connection to the rail point to be operated, said spindle having a recess, a disk journalled in said recess, said disk being journalled on said crank pin, a hand lever having a lost motion connection with said crank shaft, said lost motion connection being of the order of whereby, when said PAUL HOFFMAN. WHITTIER PERDUE. 

